Parylene provides unparalleled protection to components in space without added significant mass. According to NASA, it costs $10,000 to put one pound of payload into space. While coating mass isn’t a big concern for most people, the aerospace industry is very aware and sensitive to the additional cost it adds. On average, Parylene removes about 50% of the coating mass due to its thinness, which means substantial financial savings and increase in component protection.

Since Parylene is applied in a vacuum, there are no hidden voids or air gaps, allowing the coating to be free of any outgassing characteristics, which may present a pathway for failure when exposed to altitude. Parylene also offers excellent dielectric properties since it is formed as a thin, continuous film, free from defects and fillers that tend to reduce dielectric strength.

Parylene C and Parylene HT® have a long history of increasing the reliability and protecting components used in space exploration, including electronics on the International Space Station, JSTARS Surveillance System and the Deep Space Propulsion Test.

For more information on Parylene’s use in space applications, please contact Tim Seifert at 317.244.1200, ext. 220 or tseifert@scscoatings.com.